Jackson County combats growing mosquito problem

Jackson County leaders said they hired Mississippi Mosquito Control to spray throughout the county, after Isaac dumped mounds of water in the area and calls start flying in from complaining residents about the insects.

JACKSON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -

Jackson County officials have hired a spray company to help combat a
high count of annoying mosquitoes flying around town. The goal is to
also to prevent any new cases of West Nile Virus in the county.

The sound of spray trucks buzzing could be heard in Gulf Park Estates Wednesday as crews rolled up and down streets killing the irritating insects.

"It is a mist. It is pretty effective and very quick acting on the mosquitoes. Usually within an hour those mosquitoes are starting to die," Entomologist Steve Pavlovich said.

Jackson County leaders said they hired Mississippi Mosquito Control to spray throughout the county, after Hurricane Isaac dumped mounds of water in the area and calls start flying in from residents complaining about the insects.

"We decided that we needed to take the fight to the mosquitoes were they breed," Jackson County Supervisor Troy Ross said. "Let's start getting that population under control where it is normal for the area."

The mosquito spraying trucks are also fighting to reduce the risk of West Nile Virus.

"Each week we put out several different traps to test for encephalitis, and we have had five positive samples come back this year. We have also had some human activity both here in the Gulf Park Estates area, as well as the Bayou Cumbest area," Pavlovich said. "I believe we are at 196 cases in the state of Mississippi, which is on track to have us highest possible amount of cases. It's comparable to 2002."

The insect control team members are confident their efforts will help combat this growing problem.

"We need to repeatedly spray, so that's why we are doing some of the increase spraying in Jackson County," Pavlovich said.

It is also important that you do your part to avoid mosquito bites. For example, getting rid of any standing water, wearing long sleeves, and of course, do not forget to put on the mosquito repellent.

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Bryant has said multiple times that he wants Mississippi to be the safest place in America for an unborn child. Source: Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves

The law goes into effect immediately and the only exceptions are if a fetus has health problems making it incompatible with life outside the womb at full term or if the mother's life or "major bodily function" is threatened by the pregnancy. Pregnancies resulting from rape or incest are not exempt from the new law.

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